Detachable electromagnetic pickup and circuit for stringed musical instrument



United States Patent Inventor Glen R. Peterson, Jr.

Summit, NJ.

Appl. No. 763,140

Filed Sept. 27, 1968 Patented Dec. 15, 1970 Assignee Oscar Schmidt-International, Inc.

Union, NJ.

DETACHABLE ELECTROMAGNETIC PICKUP AND CIRCUIT FOR STRINGEDMUSICAL INSTRUMENT 3 Claims, 7 Drawing Figs.

US. Cl 84/1.16

Int. Cl G10d 1/12, GlOd 5/00 Field of Search 84/ 1 .09,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,817,261 12/1957 Fender 84/116 3,177,283 4/1965 Fender 84/1.16 3,475,543 10/1969 Burns 84/L1S 3,483,303 12/1969 Warner 84/1.l5 FOREIGN PATENTS 271,668 11/1950 Switzerland 84/285 Primary Examiner-W. E. Ray Attorney-A. Yates Dowell and A. Yates Dowell Jr.

ABSTRACT: An electromagnetic pickup for rapid connection to or disconnection from a stringed instrument of the zither type having a chord bar bridge supported at the sides of the strings has an elongated electromagnetic bar for positioning beneath the strings, the bar having tabs for frictional retention by the ends of the chord bar bridge and a control connected to one of the tabs with leads to the electromagnetic bar.

DETACHABLE ELECTROMAGNETIC PICKUP AND CIRCUIT FOR STRINGED MUSICAL INSTRUMENT BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION e SUMMARY or THE lNYENTlON Briefly stated the present invention. includes an elongated bar electronic pickup of low height so that it may be received on top of the housing of an instrument'and beneath its strings. The bar has short extensions from each end which are frictionally received and retained beneath the ends of the chord bar housing of an instrument such as a zither, and a control a means connected to one of the extensions having leads connected to the pickup.

In the drawing:

FIG. I is a plan view of a lower end portion of a zither with an embodiment of the present invention mounted thereon;

FIG. 2, a side elevation;

FIGS 3, 4 and 5. enlarged sections on the lines 3-3, 4-4 and 5-5 respectively of FIG. I; 1

FIG. 6, a perspective to an enlarged scale of an embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 7, a schematic circuit diagram. I

With further reference to .the drawings; there is illustrated the lower portion of a zither body havinga multiplicity of strings 11 which are mounted in spaced relation above the top 10 of the body. The 'zither includes chord bar structure comprising chord bar retainers or housings'lZ andl3 in which a plurality of chord bars 14 are removabiy mounted. The chord bar retainers are mounted on the top of the instrument secured by fasteners 15, one at each end 'of each retainer. By removal of two screws for one of the retainers l3 and loosening of the screws holding the retainer 12, a, thin sheet member may be positioned'for retention by the-chord bar retainers.

2 The device of the present invention includes an elongated bar 20 having a central electromagnetic portion 21 retained between side flanges 22 and has end flanges or extensions 24. 25. I

The electromagnetic portion 21 ,is of a nature which is highly sensitive to magnetic excitation such as a multiplicity of coils of fine wire in a ferromagnetic base, such structure being well known to those skilled in the art. The mounting of such structure adjacent to vibrating strings causes electrical impulses to be transmitted to the leads thereto and these in turn may be amplified by conventional electronic apparatus. in order to transmit the impulses received from the member 21, at least one lead extends from the member 21 to the control elements 26, 27. A standard connection28 for a lead to an amplifier and speaker is provided at one side of the control member.

In the use of the device, the fastening members 15 holding the retainer 13 are removed or loosened sufliciently to permit the bar to be slipped therebeneath and the fastening members 15 holding the retainer 12 are loosened sufficiently to receive the flange 24 at the other end of the bar. The fasteners 15 are then tightened and the instrument is ready to be connected to the amplifier.

I claim:

1. An electronic pickup for an instrument of the type having a plurality of strings, a bridge structure overlying the strings and mounted on each side thereof, said bridge structure being removable, said pickup comprising a relatively long, relatively said bar.

2. The invention of claim 1 in which said control means 15 directly connected to said one tab whereby said tab supports 3 the control means.

3. An electronic pickup for a stringed instrument comprising a relatively long, relatively flat electromagnetic bar, means extending from said bar for connection to an instrument, and

control means magnetically and electrically connected to said bar, said control means adapted to be electrically connected to amplifier means. 

